Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Oct. 05, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 shares
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding (in Shares) | shares		53,565	53,565		53,565
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in Shares) | shares		55,444,065	55,444,065		55,028,238
Owned by MatlinPatterson [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding (in Shares) | shares		267,829	267,829
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in Shares) | shares		126,400,000	126,400,000
Outstanding Common Stock and Preferred Stock Ownership Percentage		59.00%	59.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Owned by MatlinPatterson [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding (in Shares) | shares	0
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in Shares) | shares	42,800,000
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion (in Shares) | shares	17,600,000
Outstanding Common Stock Ownership Percentage	0.35
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity				$ 750.0
Letter of Credit [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity				350.0
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility and Letters of Credit [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 1,200.0
The Ryland Group, Inc. [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares (in Shares) | shares	48,000,000
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	$ 1,900.0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets	3,000.0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	1,900.0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	$ 800.0
Acquisition Costs [Member] | The Ryland Group, Inc. [Member] | Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Expenses and Losses Recognized		$ 2.3	$ 7.5
Integration and Executive Compensation Costs [Member] | The Ryland Group, Inc. [Member] | Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Expenses and Losses Recognized		6.7	6.7
Standard Pacific [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding (in Shares) | shares	17,562,557
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in Shares) | shares	55,444,065
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	5
Standard Pacific [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		450.0	450.0
The Ryland Group, Inc. [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in Shares) | shares	47,751,518
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	1.0191
The Ryland Group, Inc. [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		$ 300.0	$ 300.0
Reverse Stock Split [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Note 2 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	5